Leinster U16 and U18 Crowned Interpro Double Champions!
September 08, 2025
What was billed as a memorable weekend in Lisnagarvey Hockey Club turned into something truly unforgettable, as Leinster were crowned double champions of the U16 and U18 Interprovincial Tournaments!
U16 Leinster Round-Up
The Leinster U16 Boys sealed their championship title with a game to spare after producing a weekend of outstanding hockey.
They kicked things off in style with a brilliant 2–0 win over Ulster, showing their clinical edge with goals from Ollie Cox and Ellis Powell.
Day two brought a dramatic double-header. In a thrilling contest, Leinster edged Munster 4–3 thanks to goals from Joshua Cron, Alfie Kelly, and a superb double from Matthew Phelan. Later that day, they secured the championship with a confident 3–1 victory over Ulster, with Joshua and Zac Collins both finding the net.
Although their final game ended in a 3–1 defeat to Munster, with Matthew Phelan again providing the goal, nothing could dampen the spirits of the squad and travelling supporters, as the Boys lifted the U16 All-Ireland Championship trophy. A truly special weekend full of memories that will last a lifetime.
U18 Leinster Round-Up
The U18 Leinster Boys followed suit, clinching the Interpro title with a brilliant display throughout the weekend.
Their campaign began with a tense opener against Ulster. After conceding early, Leinster hit back through Max Stead and Kyle Handcock to seal a hard-fought 2–1 win and begin the campaign with a fantastic win.
Saturday brought more drama, starting with a narrow 3–1 loss to Munster despite a goal from Jan Dijkstra. But the response was superb—an electrifying clash with Ulster ended 2–2 in normal time thanks to goals from joint captains Lee McMullen and Riain Delaney, before Leinster triumphed 4–3 in the penalty shootout. Special credit goes to Luke Murphy and Finn Harty, who were outstanding in goal.
On the final day, Leinster faced Munster in a tense decider. A brilliant brace from Riain Delaney brought the game again to a 2–2 finish, sending it to a dramatic penalty shootout. Holding their nerve under pressure, Leinster came out on top to be crowned U18 All-Ireland Champions!
Individual Player Highlights
A huge congratulations to our players who shone brightly and picked up individual awards at the Tournament!
In the U16s, Stephen O’Leary was named Breakthrough Player, while Joshua Cron impressed with the Technical Excellence award. Over in the U18s, Luke Murphy claimed the Game Changer award, and David Rankin was recognised as the Influencer.
Well done to all four on their fantastic achievements!
A Fantastic Achievement
This double success is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and talent of everyone involved in the Leinster Hockey Player Development Programme.
A huge thank you goes to our incredible sponsors AerCap, whose ongoing support is vital to the growth and success of our pathway. We also extend our thanks to Hockey Ireland for delivering another fantastic tournament.
Finally, we congratulate every player, coach, manager, volunteer, supporter, parent, and guardian who played their part in this unforgettable achievement. Two All-Ireland titles in one weekend—we could not be prouder of our Leinster teams!
